Civil War Confederate Major General. The most popular Confederate division commander, he was known as the "Stonewall of the West." He was born in County Cork, Ireland, appropriately on St. Patrick's Day. A naturalized American citizen and an adopted Arkansan, he grew up in Ireland, where his father was a well known doctor in the county. He was taught at home where he received an Episcopal church education. He apprenticed himself to a pharmacist to prepare for a medical career. He later failed the examinations and shamefully joined Her Majesty's 41st Regiment of Foot. After serving 3 years with the unit he purchased his discharge and emigrated to the United States in 1849. He worked as a pharmacist in Cincinnati, Ohio, then moved to Helena, Arkansas, where he became a partner in a drugstore. At the urging of friends he studied law and became a wealthy lawyer. In 1861 he enlisted as a Private in a company being raised for the 15th Arkansas. He was elected Captain by the unit, which began his meteoric military career that won him praise as one of the South's best infantry commanders. He was soon made Colonel of the regiment and under Major General William J. Hardee spent the fall and winter of 1861 in the vicnity of Bowling Green, Kentucky. His British military training, discipline, and charm earned him the loyalty of his men, Hardee's friendship, and a temporary brigade command. On March 4, 1862, his temporary brigade command became permanent when he received a commission to the rank of Brigadier General. The next month he was engaged in his first battle, at Shiloh, where he fought in the advance on the far left of the Confederate line. After an initial repulse, he rallied the brigade and shoved the Federals through their camps to the Tennessee River. Though the fighting had reduced his command to less than a thousand men, on the next day he personally stemmed a Confederate rout, led a counterattack, then fought rearguard action while the majority of the army retreated. He was rewarded for his performance with lavish praise, and increased command authority. In August, at the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky, he oversaw 2 brigades. However, while readying his men for the second day's fight, he was shot in the left cheek, the bullet carrying away several teeth. Unable to speak, he relinquished his command. The Confederate Congress rewarded him with a vote of appreciation and on December 13, 1862, a promotion to Major General. He commanded a division at Murfreesboro, during the Tullahoma Campaign, and at Chickamauga. A favorite of Jefferson Davis, he is credited with covering the retreat from Chattanooga after his splendid defense of Tunnel Hill. That winter he and William H. T. Walker proposed that in order to reinforce the Confederate armies slavery would have to be abolished in a "reasonable time" and blacks be recruited for military service on the promise of their freedom. The proposal was rejected by the Richmond authorities and would not be passed by the Confederate Congress until a couple of months after his death. The proposal also blocked his promotion to Lieutenant General. He went on to command his division, and briefly the corps, through the Atlanta Campaign. Under General John B. Hood at the Battle of Franklin, on November 30th, his division headed the charge on the Federal entrenchments. After having two horses killed under him, with his kepi on his sword, he led his men forward on foot until he was shot and killed 50 yards from the Union lines. His death was mourned throughout the Confederacy and his men grieved over his death for months. He was the senior of six generals to die during the Battle of Franklin. (bio by: Ugaalltheway)

We honor your memory sir, and thank you for your service, and for supporting the Confederacy, the Constitution, and states' rights during the War for Southern Independence. God bless the South and long live the Confederacy!-
Nathan E. Wood, Captain, CSAAdded: Dec. 7, 2014